Create an iOS App in Minutes with AI: No Coding Required!

Hello! Mike here. In this article, I'll show you how incredibly easy it is to create an iOS app in minutes using a powerful AI tool. The best part? You don't need any prior coding experience! I'll walk you through the process stepbystep.

Before We Start: A Quick Favor

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What You'll Need

To follow along, you'll need the following:

• A Mac (Mac Studio, MacBook, iMac, etc.)
• Xcode: Download it from the Apple App Store. This is Apple's development environment, although you won't be writing code directly, the AI tool needs it.
• Cursor AI: This is the AI tool that will write the code for you. It's incredible for coding projects.

StepbyStep Guide: Creating Your App

1. Setting Up Your Xcode Project

First, open Xcode and create a new project. **Make sure you select iOS as the platform and then choose 'App'**. Click 'Next'.

Give your app a name (e.g., Tide Times). Choose a team. If you haven't set this up before, don't worry. Go to Xcode settings (Xcode > Settings > Accounts) and link your Apple ID. The organization identifier can be your domain name backwards (e.g., com.example if your domain is example.com).

Click 'Next' and choose where to save your project files (e.g., your desktop). Click 'Create'. Xcode will create the initial project files.

2. Introducing Cursor AI

Now, open Cursor AI. When you load Cursor for the first time, you'll be prompted to open a folder. Navigate to your newly created Xcode project folder (e.g., 'Tide Times' on your desktop) and open it. This links Cursor to your iOS app project.

You'll see the project's folders and code files within Cursor. Any changes you made in Xcode are now reflected in Cursor.

3. Unleashing the Power of Cursor Composer

This is where the magic happens! Use **Cursor Composer** to write all the code for you. Press Command + Shift + I to open an untitled Composer.

4. Training Cursor Composer with Apple Best Practices

To ensure your app follows Apple's design guidelines, you can 'train' Cursor Composer by referencing relevant documentation. Type @ in Cursor Composer and start typing 'docs'. Add new documentation by providing web page URLs. Suggested resources include:

• Apple Swift Documentation
• Apple UI Design Tips (Human Interface Guidelines)

This helps ensure your code is uptodate and uses Apple's best practices. It is important to specify these upfront to get a good application from the start.

Also, type @ and start typing `code base`. This is important because you want Cursor Composer to see and edit those existing files that Xcode created to make the app.

5. Describing Your App

Now, describe your app to Cursor Composer. For example:

"I'd like to make an iOS Tide Times app. It will use a Tide Times API of your choice for the data. It will ask the user for a location or suggest them as well. Ideally, it will remember that location each time the app is reopened, and it will show the highs and lows in a curvy graph."

6. Let the AI Work Its Magic!

Press Enter, and Cursor Composer will start writing code. You'll see the code being generated in realtime. Click "Accept All" to apply the changes.

7. Testing and Refining Your App

Back in Xcode, the preview should update. You can test the app by selecting a location. If the data isn't showing up correctly, go back to Cursor and prompt it again. For example: @code base no data shows after picking a location make this work.

8. Enhancing the UI

To improve the app's user interface, provide more specific instructions to Cursor. For example: @code base no data shows after picking a location make this work. Use the Apple UI design tips to show only 24 hour tides in table. Add data underneath with highs and lows in text and make the UI really pretty.

9. Testing on a Virtual iPhone

To test your app on a virtual iPhone, select an iOS device from the top of Xcode (e.g., iPhone 16) and click the 'Play' button. This will launch a simulator with your app running.

10. Creating an App Icon

A great app needs a great icon! You can use AI tools like ChatGPT and DALLE or Midjourney to generate icon ideas and designs.

1. Copy best practices for creating app icons from Apple to ChatGPT.
2. Prompt with text like: create a unique, memorable icon that communicates the purpose and personality of a Tide Times app.
3. Copy the prompt from DALLE and paste it into Midjourney.
4. Upscale the generated image in Midjourney
5. Cut out the generated icon using Photoshop.

11. Implementing the App Icon

In Xcode, go to the 'Assets' folder of your app. You should see an 'AppIcon' asset. Upload your generated icon to the appropriate slots.

12. Testing on a Physical iPhone

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a cable. In Xcode, select your iPhone as the target device. Click the 'Play' button to build and install the app on your phone. You may need to trust the computer on your phone.

Congratulations!

You now have a fully functional iOS app on your physical device, created with the power of AI and minimal coding!

Important Considerations

If you're using a free Apple Developer account, your app will expire after seven days. You'll need to reload it through Xcode to continue using it.

A paid Apple Developer Account ($99 per year) allows you to use apps on your phone for up to one year and gives you the opportunity to publish your app in the App Store.

Get Started!

It's never been easier to bring your app ideas to life. Leave your questions and thoughts in the comments below. Join the community to discuss AIbased iOS app development and share your creations!